GLP‑1 Drugs and the Rise of Unchecked Weight Loss Culture
GLP‑1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy have rapidly become headline-grabbing solutions for weight loss. Originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes, these medications lead to significant appetite suppression and weight reduction which has made them incredibly appealing not just to those with clinical obesity, but to anyone feeling pressure to lose weight fast.
But this trend is extremely concerning, especially for people living with eating disorders, whether diagnosed or not.
It's alarmingly easy to get GLP‑1 drugs online. A few clicks, a short health questionnaire, and you're in. But there is a huge problem here: these online platforms rarely ask meaningful questions about eating disorders. They might ask, “do you have an eating disorder or have you had one in the past?”, but this is relying on someone to truthfully self-report.
If you're living with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or a disordered relationship with food, there is absolutely no way that you are going to tick a box that would deny you access to what’s being advertised everywhere as a miracle solution! The companies say they are carrying out due-diligence with their one little question, but they are not! The system is set up to miss the very people most at risk.
Eating Disorders and GLP‑1s: A Risky Intersection
GLP‑1 drugs work by reducing hunger and delaying gastric emptying. For someone with an already disordered eating pattern, this can amplify unhealthy behaviours leading to; further restriction, increased suppression of our natural hunger cues and complete and utter avoidance of meals.
On the flip side, for those struggling with binge eating disorder or emotional eating, the drugs may seem like a relief. However, the problem is not being fixed. Losing weight will not fix the underlying issue which is the poor relationship with your body and food. You are simply putting a plaster on a much deeper wound and hoping that everything will heal underneath. And what happens when the weight has been lost and the medication stopped? Studies show that up to 65–70% of that weight is regained within a year of stopping the drug! Driving the cycle that deepens feelings of failure, hopelessness and/or reinforces the restrict/binge pattern.
The Weight Loss Industry Is Watching and Coining it in!
Many diet companies are now including GLP‑1s into their weight loss programmes, promising “faster results” and “greater success.” These same companies know the long-term reality which is, unless someone stays on the drug indefinitely (which isn’t always safe or affordable), the weight is likely to return.
For someone with an eating disorder history, this is a dangerous game. It reinforces societies warped belief that the idea that weight loss equals health and worth, that control over hunger means you have succeeded, even if it comes at the cost of ruining someone’s mental and physical wellbeing.
If You're Feeling Stuck, You're Not Alone
When every headline, influencer, and person next door talks constantly about weight loss jabs and sells them as the fix you’ve been waiting for, it can feel REALLY hard to not sign the dotted line and hand your money over there and then. Throw into the mix living with the constant battle of disordered eating, that promise of control can be incredibly powerful. But hold your horses, there is another way, one that involves respecting and honouring your body as (shock horror), GLP‑1 isn’t just something you inject, it is something our body naturally produces it in response to:
Nourishing foods: especially fibre-rich vegetables, whole grains, protein and fats (think Mediterranean Diet)
Movement: even gentle forms like walking, yoga, or stretching
Sleep and stress management: both of which help regulate hormones tied to appetite
Consistent, compassionate eating patterns, not restriction or punishment
These strategies take longer, yes, but they are designed to heal your relationship with your body and food. They honour your body rather than silencing it and, most importantly, they help restore your ability to accept your body for what it is when you are listening to your hunger, fullness and responding to them in a calm and appropriate manner.
GLP‑1 medications have their place in clinical care but for those navigating an eating disorder, the risks can be profound and often overlooked. We need to push back against a culture that equates shrinking our bodies with solving our problems.
If you’re struggling, please know that you are not alone, and your value is not tied to your weight. Whether you're in recovery, unsure if you have a disordered relationship with food or are just at an absolute loss as to what to do then please know that help is available and that you are so much more than just a number on the scale.